The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, ruling he lacked the authority to impose them without Congress. Trump blasted the justices as “ashamed” and vowed to pursue alternative trade measures.
WEBDESK – MediaBites
President Donald Trump sharply criticized the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday after it struck down his administration’s sweeping global tariffs, calling the ruling “deeply disappointing” and accusing several justices of lacking the courage to “do what’s right for our country.”
The decision represents one of the most significant setbacks of Trump’s second term, directly challenging his authority to impose broad import taxes without explicit congressional approval.
Court rejects broad tariff powers
In a majority opinion authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court ruled that presidents do not possess inherent authority to impose across-the-board tariffs on any country without clear authorization from Congress.
The six-justice majority included three liberal justices — Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson — along with three conservatives: Roberts, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.
The ruling found that while presidents have certain trade authorities under existing statutes, the Constitution assigns primary control over tariffs and taxation to Congress.
Trump lashes out
Speaking at the White House hours after the decision, Trump said he was “ashamed” of certain members of the court and accused them of being influenced by “foreign interests,” though he provided no evidence.
“They should be absolutely ashamed,” Trump said during a 45-minute press conference. “They didn’t have the courage to do the right thing.”
The president also criticized Gorsuch and Barrett — both of whom he appointed during his first term — calling their votes an “embarrassment.” He stopped short of saying he regretted nominating them but made clear his frustration.
At the same time, Trump praised the three dissenting justices — Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh — who argued that the administration’s tariff authority should have been upheld. In a lengthy dissent, Kavanaugh warned that undoing the tariffs could force the government to refund billions in collected revenue.
Major blow to Trump’s tariff agenda
The decision strikes at the heart of Trump’s economic strategy, which has relied heavily on tariffs as leverage in trade negotiations and as a tool to reshape global supply chains.
Legal experts say the ruling reinforces constitutional limits on executive power and reasserts Congress’s role in trade policy.
Trade analysts described the outcome as a significant moment for separation of powers. Some praised the decision as a reaffirmation of the rule of law, while others noted the financial and diplomatic uncertainty it may trigger.
Despite the setback, Trump vowed to explore alternative legal pathways to continue imposing tariffs, signaling that the battle over trade policy is far from over.
The confrontation sets up a deepening institutional clash between the White House and the Supreme Court — and raises fresh questions about the limits of presidential power in Trump’s second term.
